Nearly one in five Americans who want a full-time job can’t find one. That is a serious, serious problem. It’s why the blue-collar voters of Massachusetts, who are suffering a 20 percent unemployment rate, sent Scott Brown to the U.S. Senate.
Teamsters Have Good Meeting with Congressman Steve Cohen (D-Tenn) Regarding Airline Bankruptcy Reform
The Teamsters have been pursuing reform of the bankruptcy code by having Section 1113 of the code modified to exclude airlines, just as railroads are currently excluded. Section 1113 allows judges to abrogate union contracts by following certain procedures. The Teamsters and USAPA met with Congressman Cohen to pursue this change. The meeting went well and was very productive.
Teamster Airline Division Meets With House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Staff
February 4, 2009
Pictured above are Capt. Bob Coffman, chairman of the governmental affairs committee of the Allied Pilots Association; Capt. David Bourne, director of the Teamsters Airline Division; Kevin Mitchell, chairman of the Business Travel Coalition; and Capt. Paul Onorato, president of the Coalition of Airline Pilots Associations.
The group met on Jan. 30 with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s staff to address the issue of outsourcing jobs in the aviation industry.
Capt. Bourne strongly contended that the middle class is weakened by outsourcing the jobs of U.S. pilots and mechanics overseas. The Teamsters are leading the fight on Capitol Hill to stop outsourcing of good, skilled aviation jobs.
Capt. Bourne Goes to Washington
Capt. David Bourne, Teamsters Airline Division Director, recently met with Rep. Nick Rahall, the West Virginia Democrat who serves as vice chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
The visit was part of an effort to introduce the Teamsters Airline Division to Congress.
Bourne has met with a several powerful congressmen recently, as well as with the top aide to Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and with key staff of the Senate Commerce Committee, which oversees aviation.
The message: If you’re talking about issues that affect airlines or other transportation modes, the Teamsters are the definitive voice.
Bourne is targeting his visits to members of Congress and staff who have a strong influence over legislation and funding for aviation and transportation. Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., is chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee; Rep. Jerry Costello, D-Ill., is chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee; and Rep. Ed Pastor, is the No. 2 Democrat on the Transportation Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee.
Bourne made sure they knew that the Teamsters are the face of transportation in America. He told them we represent 600,000 people who drive some sort of vehicle for a living, as well as the full gamut of aviation jobs.
